LAHAINA – Simply put, Randy and Stacy Casco represent a high standard of family values and integrity that manifest the grassroots quality of life here in the village of Lahaina.

Perhaps most of all, this life success is evidenced in the lives of their three sons: Kawika, Kainoa and Lake. All three advanced through Lahaina Complex schools as honor students and athletic standouts, and, in three months, will complete an academic hat trick, as all three will have graduated from college with degrees in hand.

Furthermore, Stacy and Randy Casco continue to contribute to the academic welfare of the children of the West Side community as members of the educational workforce at Maui Preparatory Academy and Lahaina Intermediate School, respectively.

Stacy is on the administrative staff at Maui Prep, while Randy is a physical education teacher at LIS.

Randy is now ready to ascend to the highest level of martial arts training within the United States Taekwon-Do Federation and the International Taekwon-Do Federation.

On March 12, Randy, currently 6th Dan (sixth degree black belt) and founder, chief instructor and administrator of Casco’s Taekwon-Do at the Lahaina Civic Center since 1981, will test for Master Instructor/7th Dan status under the USTF and ITF.

Grand Master Rene Sereff, the first woman in the USTF to achieve this high rank, will come to Lahaina specifically to conduct the examination and promotion ceremony for Randy.

Sereff has been practicing with the USTF for 42 years, was the first woman on the board of directors of the ITF and has been the major force in recruiting women into Taekwon-Do. She has traveled to teach the art in all corners of the world, including Canada, Russia, Europe, Argentina, Malaysia, Scotland and New Guinea.

“I have traveled all around the world to promote Taekwon-Do, but Maui and Lahaina will always be my favorite,” said Sereff last week.

“We’ve visited here several times, and Randy has always treated us to a wonderful time. He taught our kids how to surf, and we have all fallen in love with Maui – it’s like home to us.”

The testing will represent the first time that the USTF and ITF have done so in the State of Hawaii and the first time to promote a Master Black Belt here.

Randy, the organization’s Hawaii state director, was called “The Pioneer of Taekwon-Do in Hawaii” by the legendary General Choi Hong Hi, known as the father of Taekwon-Do.

The highest ranking USTF black belt in the state, Randy was honored twice as the national recipient of the USTF Loyalty Award.

The testing will include patterns, step sparring with takedowns, and power board breaking. It will be held at the Lahaina Civic Center Social Hall beginning at 6 p.m., followed by a promotional ceremony led by Grand Master Sereff.

“Randy really lives the tenants of Taekwon-Do, which are Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control, and Indomitable Spirit,” said Sereff. “He really does live these standards and has worked hard all these years.”